Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett Poised For Breakout Season
By Nick Ziegler
The Indianapolis Colts are looking to have a bounce back season in 2016. A breakout year by Phillip Dorsett would help them achieve that.
It’s safe to say that 2015 was a season to forget for the Indianapolis Colts. The team failed to reach the playoffs after making it to the AFC Championship Game in 2014. Injuries to Andrew Luck played a big part in the Colts’ struggles last season, but he wasn’t the only player that had his season cut short because of injuries.
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Rookie wide receiver Phillip Dorsett didn’t get his NFL career of to the start that he would have liked after being drafted with the 26th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Dorsett didn’t have monster statistics in college, but he had a very good senior season for the Miami Hurricanes which helped raise his draft stock.
The Colts looked like they did a very good job on paper last offseason to surround Luck with a lot of talent, as they added veterans like Andre Johnson and Frank Gore in free agency in addition to Dorsett in the first round. Johnson and Gore both didn’t have the greatest of seasons for the Colts in 2015, and the Colts and Johnson will not be with the team in 2016.
In addition to losing Johnson, the Colts also saw Coby Fleener leave for the New Orleans Saints. Fleener was a favorite target of Luck since their college days at Stanford, and he was targeted heavily by Luck in the NFL as well. Last season, Fleener totaled 54 receptions, which will now be up for grabs in 2016.
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While Dorsett won’t be the No.1 target of Luck in 2016, he could see a lot of opportunities as a possible second option behind T.Y. Hilton. Hilton will without a doubt be the No.1 wide receiver for the Colts in 2016, as he totaled over 1,000 receiving yards last season.
Last season, Dorsett was only able to total 18 receptions, 225 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. Dorsett, unfortunately, broke his leg in the middle of the season and had the first surgery of his career. He was able to return at the end of the season, but he only totaled seven receptions in the final three games of the season with Luck already out.
Building chemistry with Luck will be important for Dorsett this season, as the two didn’t get to play much together in 2015. Dorsett might not have had the rookie season that he would have liked, but he can challenge Donte Moncrief for the second spot in the Colts’ wide receiver corps. It will be difficult to take Moncrief’s spot, as he totaled 64 receptions, 733 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns.
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The Colts will hope that Hilton, Moncrief, and Dorsett will be a good trio at wide receiver for Luck, as they will be attempting to redeem the 2015 season. An improved offensive line should help the Colts’ passing offense succeed in 2016, as they need to keep Luck healthy. With Johnson and Fleener gone, Dorsett is in prime position to have a breakout season in 2016 with a healthy Luck throwing him the ball.